Lethal guitarist Eric Cook has lost his battle with cancer.
Few details surrounding the musician's death were available as WENN went to press, but his longtime pal, Oliver Weinsheimer, confirmed the news to Blabbermouth.net on Saturday (25Aug12).
The rocker founded the Kentucky-based group with his brother Glen Cook and Tom Mallicoat in 1982, and eight years later they released their debut album, Programmed, with the help of drummer Jerry Hartmann.
In 1995, the heavy metal band released its second and final album, Poison Seed, which spawned a number of hits, including Down and Walking Wounded, and over the next few years, Lethal played several festivals throughout North America and Europe.
Now, Weinsheimer, the organiser of Germany's Keep It True festival, has paid tribute to the talented musician.
He says, "I am in a state of shock. I got in contact with Eric in 2006 through our mutual friend Martin Brandt and was able to book him and Lethal for their very first European show at Keep It True in 2007. As expected, it went down triumphant (sic) and after that we stayed in touch (and) I tried to help them getting further with new music and more gigs... and then it got a bit quiet around them 'till today I got this shocking news.
"Eric was one of the nicest musicians I ever worked with and a real gentleman... The whole Keep It True family sends their condolences to his family, friends and his bandmembers, who all go through dark times right now. Rip, my friend..."